Geese Chatter

"Pause that..."

2013-02-19T15:56:00.001-05:00

People at Geese Chatter and our readers have been scouring the internet for things in dire need of being paused. This first one was already posted and paused by Evan Turner. @ThekidET is a noted veteran of the pause game - always making sure to cover his tracks before posting on his Twitter or Instagram. Six days ago, he put up a photo of 76ers rookie, Arnett Moultrie, with a lollypop on Instagram with the caption, "#PicFrame the rook loves his suckers #pause." On behalf of Geese Chatter and "pausers" everywhere, I would like to commend Evan Turner on a job well done.

Another well done should be handed out to J.R. Smith who admitted his Instagram photo was a bit sketchy, but too good to pass up on.

One of our readers, Marquis, hit me up with another rap lyric that needs to be paused. Who was the culprit? Shocker...Drake.

Started From the Bottom - Drake
"I can turn your boy into a man..."

And upon further research, I came across this all-timer from Drake...

Fuckin' Problem - A$AP Rocky ft. 2 Chainz, Drake, & Kendrick Lamar
"If you comin' for my head, then motherfucker get to bustin..."

Gay? Straight? You be the judge.

Yogi Berra Quotes

2013-02-18T20:47:00.001-05:00

Without question, Yogi Berra is my favorite quoter. Here are some of his gems:

1. "This is like deja vu all over again."

2. "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

3. "You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six."

4. "Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical."

5. "A nickel isn't worth a dime today."

6. "You can observe a lot just by watching."

7. "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours."

8. "90% of the putts that are short don't go in."

9. "If you can't imitate him, don't copy him."

10. "If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else."

Lock of the night

2013-02-15T19:22:00.000-05:00

What's a Hoya? To be quite frank, I have no clue. My brother-in-law once told me but since then I have forgotten. Tonight Georgetown (18-4, 8-3 Big East) plays Cincinnati (19-6, 7-5 Big East) in a battle for the Big East. If the Hoyas walk out victorious, they will sit on top of the standings. If they lose, first place will be up for grabs. We have Otto Porter Jr. for the Hoya's who averages 15 points and 8 rebounds a game against Sean Kilpatrick of the Bearcats who averages 18 points and 5 boards. Look for these studs to light it up for both teams.

Cincinnati has lost two of their last three games, while Georgetown have won their last 7 games. I don't see Georgetown losing. They are hot as of late and I don't see them slowing down. They are ranked number 15 in the country and are looking to move up every chance they can. Tonight will be a big night.

Lock of the night:
Load it up, lock it down and rub it out: Georgetown +4.5

P.S. If they do end up losing, they won't lose by more than 3.
P.P.S. After Georgetown wins, I'll do a miniblog on what a damn Hoya is.

Bubble Watch: Three Paths to the NCAA Tournament for the UMass Minutemen

2013-02-13T17:20:00.002-05:00

The UMass Minutemen are currently presented with the opportunity to make it to their first NCAA Tournament in 15 years. They sit squarely on the bubble and the stretch run of the 2012-2013 begins this week. If they can fulfill one of these three scenarios, they should be dancing in March...

Take a look at the last seven games on UMass' schedule and each team's spot in the standings:

GROUP A: (RPI 1-50) -- GREAT WINS

--Virginia Commonwealth (39)

--Temple (41)

--Butler (14)

GROUP B: (RPI 51-150) -- SOLID WINS

--Dayton (113)

--St. Bonaventure (121)

--Xavier (79)

GROUP C: (RPI 150+) -- MUST WINS

--Rhode Island (193)

SCENARIO #1:

Stretch-run record: (6-1)

--ANY 7 wins

A-10 tournament wins: 0

Final record: (22-8)

I think this is the least likely scenario as it would likely include sweeping group B, two of which (@St. Bonnie's and @Xavier) are on the road, AND getting 2 out of 3 from group A. With a final regular season record of 22-7, I do not believe that an A-10 tourney win would be necessary, seeing as the Minutemen would have three top-50 wins and really only one decently bad (but not awful) loss to George Washington whose RPI is currently at a mediocre 127. Under these circumstances UMass would be playing with house money going into the A-10 tournament possibly as the #1 seed, with the opportunity to jump up to a 7 or 8 seed with a good performance in Brooklyn.

SCENARIO #2:

Stretch-run record: (5-2)

-- 2 Group A Wins

-- 2 Group B Wins

-- 1 Group C Win

A-10 tournament wins: 1

Final Record: (22-9)

This is the most likely scenario for the Minutemen. It MUST include wins against two out of three from group A, AND two out of three from group B. That would leave the Minutemen with three top-50 wins, and at least one solid road victory at Xavier's Cintas Center (where they have lost one A-10 game in the past six seasons) or out at St. Bonaventure in Olean, NY (basically the middle of nowhere). If this scenario played out, I would be shitting my pants going into what would be a must win in the last game of the season at rival URI(ne). A first round A-10 win would also be a necessity, as it would likely come against a lower seeded A-10 team like George Washington or Dayton.

SCENARIO #3:

Stretch-run record: (4-3)

-- 2 Group A Wins

-- 1 Group B Win

-- 1 Group C Win

A-10 tournament wins: 2

Final Record: (22-10)

Once again this situation would require UMass to take two of three from group A. Yet, seeing as URI in group C is a must win, it would mean going disappointing 1-2 in group B. However, this could be overcome by getting hot in Brooklyn for the A-10 tournament, where the Minutemen probably would not receive a first round bye. Therefore, their first round opponent would likely be a 10-12 seed and their quarterfinal opponent would be a 1-4 seed. Another win over a 1-4 seeded A-10 team would likely put the Minutemen at four top-50 RPI wins, and still not any truly bad losses. It's pretty complicated and an unlikely scenario, but it's definitely within the realm of the possibility. And when you support a team that has not had it's name called on selection Sunday in 15 year, even the slightest chance is worth hoping for.

DMV Basketball Players

2013-02-12T21:07:00.002-05:00

For those that don't know I was born in a hospital in Washington DC, grew up in a home in Takoma Park, Maryland, and when I was 3 moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland where I live within a 5 minute walk of the border to Washington DC. Needless to say I rep the D[M]V. For all of you non-DMVers that stands for DC Maryland Virginia. I put the bracket around the "M" because I am a Maryland guy. I have always been fascinated by the extreme basketball talent that comes from the DMV and I never pass up the opportunity to mention to my friends which College and NBA players went to a High School near me, or someone who I have played against in AAU. As I get into this post I will write about the most known players that went to high school or are from the DMV and now play at a high level of basketball or will be playing at a high level soon. From this post I want readers to realize that the DMV is the best place for up and coming basketball players.

One thing I like to look at is, the Washington Post's All-Metropolitan selections. This consists of the best high school public and private school basketball players in the DMV. The first team, as well as the other teams have some very impressive names. I will start in the 1996-97 basketball season where the first familiar name might show up and then name more players until the last basketball season

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje

-Big man from Archbishop Carroll High School in DC went on to go to Georgetown and drafted in the second round by the Trail Blazers.

Keith Bogans

-Guard from Dematha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland. Still plays in the NBA in his 11th season. Curently playing for the Nets.

Roger Mason Jr.

-Guard from Good Counsel High School in DC, went to Virginia and is known in the NBA as lock down shooter.

Michael Sweetney

-Big man from Oxon Hill High School in Maryland. Went on to have a great college career at Georgetown and a solid NBA career. All-met player of the year 1999-00.

Delonte West

-Guard from Eleanor Rooselvelt High School in Maryland. Went on to lead St. Joe's to some of their best seasons in history and still plays in the NBA. All-met player of the year in 2000-01.

Chris McCray

-Guard from Fairmount Heights in Maryland. Went on to play at Maryland and plays professionally overseas.

Travis Garrison

-Big man from Dematha Catholic in Maryland. Went on to start for Maryland.

Linas Kleiza

-Swingman from Montrose Christrain in Rockville, Maryland. Has played overseas and is also currently on the Raptors.

Folarin Campbell

-Guard from Springbrook High School in Maryland. Part of the famous George Mason basketball team that made it to the final four in 2006.

Sam Young

-Swingman from Friendly High School in Mayland. Starred at Pittsburgh for a couple years and now is still playing in the NBA on the Pacers.

Rudy Gay

-Swingman from Splading High School in Maryland. Gay is currently one of the top swingmen in the NBA averaging just under 18 points per game in his NBA career. Currently on the Raptors.

Jeff Green

-Big man from Northwestern High School in Maryland. Went on to star at Georgetown, won Big East player of the year and now plays for the Celtics.

Roy Hibbert

-Big man from Georgetown Prep High School and originally from Bethesda, Maryland. Starred at Georgetown before becoming one of the top big men in the NBA with the Pacers.

Dante Cunningham

-Big man from Potomac High School in Maryland. All-met player of the year in 2005. Went on to star at Villanova and currently plays for the Timberwolves.

Michael Beasley

-Big man from Riverdale Baptist in Maryland. Went to Kansas State where he quickly became one of the most dominant players college basketball had scene. Plays for the Suns now.

Marcus Ginyard

-Guard from O'Connell High School in Virginia. Started for North Carolina for a bunch of their good years from 06-09.

Eric Hayes

-Guard from Potomac High School in Virginia. Started at point guard for Maryland.

Jessie Sapp

-Guard from National Christian High School in Maryland. Played college at Georgetown.

Chris Wright

-Guard from St. John's High School in DC. Went on to star for Georgetown.

Dave Neal

-Big man from O'Connell High School in Virginia. Had a huge senior season at Maryland where some announcers reffered to him as looking like someone who "you wouldn't pick for your YMCA squad".

Scottie Reynolds

-Guard from Herndon High School in Virginia. Became a high scoring star for Villanova for 4 years.

Kevin Durant

-Guard from Montrose Christian in Maryland. One of the NBA's best 3 players right now. Youngest person to ever lead the NBA in scoring. Currently playing for the Thunder.

Austin Freeman

-Guard from Dematha High School in Maryland. Starred at Georgetown and now plays professionally overseas.

Greivis Vasquez

-Guard from Montrose Christian in Maryland. Went on to star for Maryland. Currently plays for the Hornets averaging just under 10 assists a game which is ranked third in the NBA.

Jason Clark

-Guard from O'Connell in Maryland. Went on to be a solid started for Georgetown.

Adrian Bowie

-Guard from Montrose Christian in Maryland. Went on to be a starter for Maryland and currently plays overseas.

Austin Cooley

-Guard from my High School, Bethesda Chevy Chase in Maryland. Senior year led school to State Championship. One of my favorite players because he played with my brother and I got to watch most of his high school games since he was a freshman.

Erick Green

-Guard from Millbrook High School in Virginia. Currently plays at Virginia Tech and leads the NCAA in scoring averaging 25.3 points per game.

Rodney McGruder

-Guard from Carroll High School in Maryland. Stars at point guard for top-25 ranked Kansas State.

Maurice Sutton

-Bg man from Largo High School in Maryland. One of my least favorite players. My high school (BCC) played his team two years in a row in the state playoffs at Comcast Center. Currently plays for Villanova.

Terrell Vinson

-Foward from Montrose Christian High School. Another one of my favorite players. Now starts for UMass, where I go to school. Great fundamental basketball players who has been a very solid and consistently good player for UMass since he came to the school 4 years ago.

Josh Hairston

-Guard from Courtland High School in Virginia. Currently plays for Duke.

Jamal Olasawere

-Swingman from Springbrook High School in Maryland. Currently is Long Island Universities best player leading them to two straight NCAA tournaments.

Terrance Ross

-Guard from Montrose Christian in Maryland. Currently plays for the Raptors.

Tyler Thornton

-Guard from Gonzaga High School in DC. Is the back up point guard at Duke.

Christian Webster

-Guard from Landon High School in Maryland, right down the road from where I live. Currently plays for Harvard.

Mouphtaou Yarou

-Big man from Montrose Christian in Maryland. Currently plays for Villanova.

Talib Zanna

-Big man from Bishop McNamara in Maryland. Starts at center for Pittsburgh.

Dante Taylor

-Big man from National Christian in Maryland. All-met player of the year in 08-09. Plays for Pitt.

Quinn Cook

-Guard from Dematha Catholic in Maryland. All-met player of the year in 09-10. Starts at point guard for Duke.

Kendall Marshall

-Guard from O'Connell in Virginia. Went on to star at North Carolina where is he was a terrific passer. Plays for the Suns.

Victor Oladipo

-Guard from Dematha in Maryland. Currently plays for Indiana and is my pick for National Player of the Year.

Markel Starks

-Guard from Georgetown Prep in Maryland. Current starting point guard for Georgetown.

Greg Whittington

-Foward from Oakland Mills High School in Maryland. All-met player of the year in 10-11. Started for Georgetown until he failed to show up for his fall semester finals, causing a suspension for potentially the rest of the season. The Hoyas have won 7 of 8 without him.

Nate Britt

-Guard from Gonzaga High School in DC. Rated as the the #11 point guard in his class and is already committed to North Carolina.

Treveon Graham

-Guard from St. Mary's Ryken High School in Maryland. Currently is a big part of VCU's team this year.

BeeJay Anya

-Big man from Dematha in Maryland. Commited to play for NC State next year, considered one of the best big men in his class.

Those are just some of the more well known talents from the Washington DC Metropolitan Area who were first team All-Met. There are also several other players from the area not on the first team or are from the area who i will list below. (I will make special note of my favorite players).

Thomas Robinson-Kansas then the Sacramento Kings

Jeremi Grant-Syracuse

James Robinson- Pittsburgh

Darion Atkins- Notre Dame

Jerian Grant- Notre Dame

Javorn Farrell- UMass. My school, and great player

Isaiah Armwood- George Wasington

Joe McDonald- George Washington

Kris Joseph-Syracuse

CJ Garner-Long Island

Joe Alexander- West Virginia then Milwaukee Bucks

Zaid Hearst- Quinnipiac. Starting point guard. Went to elementary school and high school with him

Jerome Seagers- Rutgers. Went to middle and high school with him.

Maurice Pearson- Ohio. Went to same high school as him.

Maxie Esho- UMass. My school and great athleticism

Raphaiel Putney-UMass. My school and great shooter with length.

Ty Lawson- North Carolina then Denver Nuggets

Carmelo Anthony-Syracuse, now the New York Knicks

Ed Davis-North Carolina, now the Memphis Grizzlies

Patrick Patterson- Kentucky then Houston Rockets

Josh Selby- Kansas then Memphis Grizzlies

Will Barton- Memphis then Portland Trail Blazers
Steve Francis- Maryland then good NBA career

Players that went/go/will go to the University of Maryland from the DMV and their High School grade on ESPN Top 100 (Grade stops before 2007 recruiting class):

Roddy Peters- District Heights, Maryland-86
Damonte Dodd- Centreville, Maryland-POST
Seth Allen- Fredricksburg Virginia-89
Nick Faust- Baltimore, Maryland-96
Pe'Shon Howard- Wytheville, Maryland-92
Sean Mosely-Baltimore, Maryland-96
Braxton Dupree- Towson, Maryland-96
Shane Walker- Rockville, Maryland- 93
Dino Gregory- Baltimore, Maryland-93
Adrian Bowie- Rockville, Maryland-92
Eric Hayes- Dumfires, Virginia
Bambale Osby- Richmond, Virginia
Greivis Vasquez- Rockville, Maryland
Dave Neal- Arlington, Virginia
Jared Gaither- Greenbelt, Maryland
James Gist- Wheaton, Maryland
Sterling Ledbetter- Laurel, Maryland
Will Bowers- Hanover, Maryland
Travis Garrison- Suitland, Maryland
John Gilchrist- Virginia Beach, Virginia
Dominique Richmond- Hagerstown, Maryland
Chris McCray- Capital Heights, Maryland

This is just a small list of the many basketball players from the DMV. Many of these players were great Division 1 players, starting for their team or contributing in a solid way. There are tons of other players I would put on this list but I, and maybe a select other few who would read this post, would be the only one who knows the player. I want to prove that the DMV has the best basketball game over New
York, Pennsylvania, California, and Texas.

Austin Cooley from my High School,

Bethesda Chevy Chase High School

Second from Left, Top Row: Rudy Gay

Middle, Top Row: Jeff Green

Second from Right, Top Row: Sam Young

Second Row, Second from Left: Jessie Sapp

Second Row, Second from Right: Scottie Reynolds

Third Row, far Right: Marcus Ginyard

Third Row, Second from Left: Chris Wright

Top Row, Second from Left: Eric Hayes

Top Row, Third from Right: Dante Cunningham

Top Row, Second from Right: Michael Beasley

"Pause that..." - Rap Lyrics

2013-02-09T13:26:00.003-05:00

Anyone who knows me understands that I'm not the biggest rap fan. Half the time, I can't understand what those guys are saying. Anyone who finds themselves jamming to these songs and doesn't pause the track (literally and figuratively) when they hear these lyrics has to do some serious self reflection...

Get Loose - T.I.
"Takin' cum to the face, yeah I like it like that."

Ridin' - A$AP Rocky feat. Lana Del Ray
"Uh, uh. Catch me ridin' like a bitch."

Here Comes Da Boom - DMX
"Motherfucka', I'll rip your butthole outta place."

She's Married to Who?! 2/7

2013-02-07T19:54:00.000-05:00

Alison Miska Grossman- Wife of Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman

Gather round Flocklings. In a time before many of us were conscious sports fans, Rex Grossman was pushing his dick around in a wheel barrow on the University of Florida campus. That's right kids, Rexy used to be the big man on the football team in a place where football comes second only to Jesus(they became one following the Ascension of Tebow). Gather closer Flocklings, as I give you the first rule of investment; sell high. What Rex Grossman pulled over Alison Miska could be turned into a textbook on selling when a stock is at its peak. She jumped on the Rexy train following an SEC Player of the Year award and an SEC championship, thinking NFL fame and riches were just a stop away. Little did she know, she would get that awkward kid at every high school party that every girl feels the need to take a picture with(see right). She was so convinced, she transferred to Northwestern when he was drafted by Chicago. And when she saw it may not pan out like she expected, she brought receiver gloves on their honeymoon. So tonight, we thank Rex Grossman's supreme investment prowess.

PS- Due to the lack of revealing pictures of Mrs. Grossman, please enjoy the only picture you will ever need of Rex Grossman.

Big Day of Soccer

2013-02-06T23:59:00.000-05:00

I’ll start off my first blog by thanking the crew of Geese Chatter for taking my in. I’m glad to be on board.

Today there were many soccer games in action from International friendlies and World Cup qualifiers. Ill briefly cover some of the main ones though. International power house Spain took on Uruguay and beat them easily 3-1 thanks to Uruguay’s goalie letting a shot by Cesc Fabregas from 30 yards out go right through his hands and trickle in the back of the net. England pulled off a lucky 2-1 win against Brazil because Brazil failed to convert on a penalty kick which would of put them ahead at the time. France fell to Germany 2-1 in a game that lacked any spark because France sat back defensively while Germany pounded it down their throats. And finally Argentina beat Sweden 3-2 and didn’t even need their star Leo Messi to score.

But lets not forget about good old USA. They kicked off their World Cup qualifying today against Honduras today. They were led by my personal favorite player Clint Dempsey and had some other big names out their such as goalie Tim Howard and midfielder Michael Bradley but did not have all their big guns which I’m sure coach Jurgen Klinsmann regretted once they lost 2-1. It was an all around disappointing performance by the USA but Clint Dempsey did score their lone goal and boy was it a beauty.

What makes this goal so impressive? Lets compare it to baseball. Everyone knows how difficult it is to catch a ball over your shoulder when your running. Now try kicking a ball coming over your shoulder. But my man Clint Dempsey does it with no sweat. Ball comes over his shoulder and he one time volleys it out of the air past the goalie into the back corner or the net. A world class finish for our goal of the day. Thanks and goodnight.

2013 Red Sox, The Novel

2013-02-06T17:56:00.000-05:00

I've been charged with the task of breaking down the Red Sox for this upcoming season, and although it is entirely too early to be making any sort of solid predictions I'll do my best.

2013 will be an interesting year for the Sox. With such high expectations for the other teams in the AL East, the boys from Boston have gone for the most part under the radar this offseason. Their smaller more temporary acquisitions being overshadowed by blockbuster deals and PED discussions. All in all making solid moves and having low expectations isn't a bad place for a building team to be.

As of now the lineup for the Sox goes like this:

Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2nd
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1st
Middlebrooks 3rd
Drew SS
Gomes LF
Saltalamacchia C

The starting rotation should look something like this:

Lester
Dempster
Buchholtz
Lackey
Doubront

So just looking at the roster, a few things jump out to me...

1. The lack of a dominant power bat.
Its been a while since the Sox haven't had a guy that could be counted on for mid-30 HR type numbers. I don't think Ortiz is that guy but him and Napoli might have to account for that roll. Napoli absolutely kills it at Fenway, putting up 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, and batting .462 in Boston last year. That being said, personally I would move Victorino down in the order below Middlebrooks and slide those three up a spot. Ellsbury and Pedroia provide a solid 1-2 punch at the top of the order and I like Ortiz-Napoli at 3-4.

2. Will Middlebrooks will be important.
Middlebrooks had an impressive rookie campaign last year and if the sox seriously want to contend he'll have to keep improving. When he came up last year I compared him to a young Nomar. Maybe a little bit of Boston bias but I think Middlebrooks has the potential to build himself into an elite third baseman, similar style to Longoria. As far as 2013 goes I believe Middlebrooks will play a key role in how long the Sox are able to stay in contention.

3. Injuries scare me.
And now we finally come to the biggest fault of the Red Sox for the last 5 years. The teams we put together can not...I repeat CAN NOT stay healthy. If you look at our lineup for this coming year the player with the shortest history of injuries (aside from maybe Stephen Drew...) is our catcher. Our catcher who when he was with the Braves suffered a mental breakdown and found it physically impossible to throw it to the pitcher, oh and he did have back spasms last year.

Ellsbury gets hurt almost every year (sometimes a few times) but when he plays looks like the second coming of Christ.

Victorino could be real solid but is getting up there in age and has struggled with injuries as his body ages.

Pedroia will be a key piece to keep healthy. He really serves as the spark-plug for the offense, even if he's hurt, hopefully he wont need to show us how tough he is this year.

Ortiz has been working the last few years to suppress any of the doubts in my head that he can still produce. He'll put up some solid numbers as long as he can keep his foot out of that boot for a year.

Napoli hardly has a hip. Honestly this doesn't worry me very much. The contract we signed him with is laden with incentives so I know he'll play hard until his hip completely disappears.

Middlebrooks missed some time last year but nothing huge. He'll be the rock of the lineup.

Stephen Drew is JD Drew's brother, that in itself scares me.

Gomes is interesting. We signed him earlyish this offseason to play leftfield for us. Apparently the Sox front office was unaware that he really isnt a leftfielder. At his best, Jonny (...) Gomes is a sub par DH, the man is horrendous in the field and I believe Red Sox Nation will tire of him quickly.

Saltalamacchia should be fine and even if he isnt we have THREE catchers on roster plus Mike Napoli.

After all that negative I think its important to look at our biggest offseason signing, John Farrell. Back when Farrell was the pitching coach for the Red Sox everybody loved him, this will be important in getting the team to play like it cares (unfortunately not our strong suit lately). Farrell also has an important job reworking the pitchers on staff. Lester and Buchholtz in particular need work living up to the potential they showed early in their careers. Boubront showed some good stuff last year and it'll be fun to see how he can build on that. Its important that we don't expect too much from Ryan Dempster, the man is getting old and has hung steady around 12 wins for a while now, but if we get those 12 wins they'll be much needed. Annnnnnnd the last pitcher: Lackey. Who knows? The guy is only a few years removed from being a top tier pitcher, the thing is that those years in between were brutal. My prayers are with John Farrell when it comes to working with him.

Ok, that was long...

But I still need to tell you highlights of what will happen this year...

The theme of this upcoming season for the Sox is "transition". Management will be looking to transition towards newer, cheaper, and more promising talent.

The first and most obvious transition position is at shortstop. Signing Stephen Drew to a one-year deal served as a placeholder to keep the position warm for one of their two not-quite-ready future stars. At some point in the year, even if Drew plays well, the Sox will call on either Jose Iglesias or Xander Bogaerts to step up and show they can play. This might come at September call-ups but don't expect Drew to be back in 2014.

Jacoby Ellsbury is entering into the last year of his contract with the Red Sox. I believe the that Sox have little intention of resigning him at what would be a steep price. This leaves the team with a few options. If Ellsbury is playing well and we live up to expectations and are far from contention the idea of shipping him before the July 31st deadline could be an option. They could get some good pieces from a contender, move Victorino over to center and plug Ryan Sweeney into right. If Ellsbury struggles (or gets injured) trading him is not an option. I have a feeling the Sox would give some practice reps to a younger guy, probably not replacing Ellsbury if he isn't hurt but maybe in left or right field. My favorite prospect right now who might be ready by then would be Jackie Bradley. I think Bradley will have a fine career, hopefully with the Sox.

It seems to me that, despite his consistency behind the plate and in the batters box, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is being pushed out of the Red Sox plans. The direction of the Red Sox backstop is moving towards Ryan Lavarnway. In all honesty I love Lavarnway and think he'll develop into an all-star catcher. Right now the Red Sox have three catchers on roster, not counting Napoli. I see management working Lavarnway in as much as they can, moving Salty to DH if Ortiz has struggles, and if not spending much of the year platooning.

Things the Red Sox Need to Have Happen

Limit injury time, specifically Pedroia and Ortiz
Bring their still young pitchers back into form
Rally around Middlebrooks (I'm positive he's key)
Have fun. Red Sox teams are much more fun to watch when the guys get along and want to play

Things the Red Sox Can't Afford to Let Happen

Lackey cannot get off to a poor start
Friggin injuries
A lot of things, 2013 is an uphill battle. Gotta be perfect

Ok ok, that was long but I didn't even mention the bullpen. Looks pretty solid this year, disappointing that we lost Atchinson to the Mets but having both Bailey and Hanrahan should make for some fun 9th innings.

Remember everything I said. Xander Bogaerts, Ryan Lavarnway, and Jackie Bradley are the stars of the future.

Game Show Switching (Monty Hall Problem)

2013-02-06T16:04:00.003-05:00

The Resident Jew and I always talk about how, if you don't switch your case on deal or no deal at the end of the game, you're the biggest sucker in the world. This situation reverts back to the Monty Hall Problem. Most of the time people believe lady luck is on their side and that they picked the winning case and in some 'cases' they did, but the odds are not in their favor. At all.

Let me just give you a quick rundown of the situation. You have a choice between 25 cases at the start of the game. One of them has $1,000,000 in it, the others have lower quantities and the lowest case has $.01. So right off the bat, you have a 4% chance of picking the case with the Million Dollars in it, and the field has a 96% chance of containing the million dollar case.
The object of the game is to pick cases that have low numbers in them so your case is worth a higher value. There is a banker and offers being made throughout the game, but that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is when you get down to decide between your case and the case left on the board, you always switch. You exchange cases every damn time and twice on Sundays. Why might you ask?
Because as you recall, your initial pick has a 4% chance of being the ideal case. After removal of 23 cases there are 2 values left. One is presumably higher valued than the other (For this example well pretend its $500,000). So your case has a 4% chance of having the $500,000 value, and the field has a 96% chance. Even though we have removed 23 other cases, your chance of picking the $500,000 case was still 4% when you chose. Now the case that is still sitting in play has a 96% chance of being the higher valued case. I really don't care what your gut is telling you. It doesn't matter if 4 is your lucky number, if 4 is the number of boobs you touched or the amount of kids you want to have. Switch your case, don't be a Neanderthal. Be a rational human.

If you are confused, please watch this clip. It is from the movie 21. It will explain it all to you in two minutes.

She's Married to Who?! 2/6

2013-02-06T14:54:00.001-05:00

Yea, I lied. SMTW did not return Monday like I had promised. But before you depraved bastards get on my back about it, I would like to let you all know that I was busy battling the Black Death. Sorry, but I view my well-being as more important than helping you all get your fix of scantily clad women and quality writing.

Emily Kuchar- Wife of Angels pitcher Zack Greinke

Red Flag 1- Greinke spells his name with a K.

Red Flag 2- Greinke specifically refused to sign with Boston or New York because he didn't want to play in a large northeast market.

Red Flag 3- Greinke spent 60 days on the DL for "psychological issues"

And there's the called third strike folks. The backwards K for the Zack with a K. Who has a mental breakdown while playing Kansas City? Those heffers get more riled up about their barbecue than they do any kind of sports team. Which leads us to ask the question, why is Emily Kuchar, 2008 Miss Daytona Beach, married to Zack Greinke? Simple. Women love when they feel like someone is dependent on them, makes them feel accomplished and shit. Well played Zack, well played.

"Pause that..." - Premier Post

2013-02-05T11:40:00.002-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen I am absolutely stoked to be getting back to the whole blogging scene. Between the time Sir Marko announced the comeback and now, I've been pondering what I would cover. Geese Chatter features plenty of people who are more than capable of writing about sports or attractive women. I, on the other hand, like to consider myself the resident expert of "pause." What is "pause" you ask? Simply put, it's a less offensive way of saying "no homo". Learn more after the jump.

The goal of my "Pause that..." segment is to alert you to some of the unintentionally (or perhaps intentionally) gay things that celebrities, athletes, and politicians say.

Looking for an example? Look no further than the first 27 seconds of this Gus Johnson interview with Spike Lee:

This pause was absolutely perfect. Notice how he just slid it in there and Spike barely even noticed? (pause...)

Now that you've been armed with this knowledge, I challenge you to use it in your day-to-day life. Catch your friend slipping? Just pause that right quick. Dude on TV says something questionable? Don't panic, just pause. Pausing someone is easy, respectful, and fun. Stay tuned for more high profile pause-worthy moments in the near future.

New Writers

2013-02-04T20:21:00.002-05:00

The Chatter have recently added two new members to the blog. I want to introduce both of them as they will be covering two totally different topics.

First we have David Schnieder. David is from DC and is a Redskins, Nationals, Wizards, and Caps fan. He loves watching basketball. If he isn't doing homework he is on his Sling box watching the Wizards while he has a college game on his TV. During the spring he will watch Bryce Harper 'Bam Bam' and the rest of the Nats swing for the fences as they try to make it back to the Playoffs. Dave will mostly be blogging about College hoops and NBA. He has recently blogged about his opinion for the upcoming 2013 NBA Draft and almost blogs daily about what is on his mind. When March comes around look for more blogs about the Big Dance and big upsets.

Next we have Mike Perry. Mike is from the worlds greatest town, Plainville. He is a current Sophomore at Nichols College where is the Captain of the Soccer Team. Perry is a soccer fanatic and will mostly be blogging about the world of fútbol, from MLS to Club to World Cup. If it involves kicking a round ball with your foot, count him in. In his free time he is mostly a Celtic and Bruins fan (besides all of the damn soccer he watches). He also loves to play poker and daily fantasy sports. If he can make a buck at something, he will. He is a pure grinder. I have known Perry my whole life and he is a great addition from the team. The kid was definitely not picked last in dodgeball to say the least.

Welcome to the chatter, men.

Why Don't We Love The World Baseball Classic?

2013-02-04T18:45:00.003-05:00

With the start of baseball's real world championship tourney looming on the horizon, the lack of enthusiasm by the general population is deafening. Baseball is our sport. We invented it and embraced it as a part of our culture for well over a decade. And so its at least a little curious that if questioned, the average American would not be able to tell you when the WBC starts (March).

Part of it can be accounted for by the general disinterest growing for the sport by our people. Americans have been leaning away from baseball, complaining about the game's length and slow pace. It's a shame that people feel this way, but it is also a bit ironic. Baseball gained popularity in the mid 1800's because it was a fast paced game that anybody could play. Even though baseball has lost some of its steam I believe the reason for disinterest goes beyond that.

The biggest reason that we, as Americans, do not care about the World Baseball Classic is the lack of the best players on the rosters. Look at the starting rotation for team USA and I could list plenty of MLB teams with stronger front 4's. Dickey, Vogelsong, and Pettite are far and away the biggest names. Good pitchers, but not the best America has to offer (Verlander and Kershaw come to mind).

Mauer and Arencibia will represent America well but it is an injustice to any potential fans for the reigning NL MVP Buster Posey to not hold down the USA catching spot. There is no way Teixiera is a better 1st baseman than Joey Votto, he just isn't. Aaron Hill might be better than Brandon Phillips but Phillips is an exciting player and I don't really have a problem with him being in the lineup. Jimmy Rollins is nowhere near the best SS out of America, Ian Desmond would probably be my pick. David Wright is a great 3rd baseman and might be the right choice, Chase Headley would be a solid pick too. The outfield is where real starpower is lost with none of Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen, and Josh Hamilton representing their countries.

The point is, Americans recognize talent. They also recognize when we aren't seeing a full display of the best ballplayers in the world. People watching this upcoming World Baseball Classic will undoubtedly see some great baseball but the fact is that they will not be seeing the best players in the world. Pair that with sub-par stadiums (dolphin stadium last WBC.....) and we can only hope to eclipse the average attendance of about 20,000 we had last time. Personally I'm looking forward to watching the Dutch team, tons of good infield prospects.

Its snowing in Ohio and we lost to Akron, the world is falling apart.

P.S. I hate Ray Lewis

I'm excited for baseball!

Irrelevant Dickey gif but I never get tired of it

Some Nuggets for Your Bowl

2013-02-04T16:29:00.000-05:00

4 Things I Think (That May be Wrong)

1. Colin Kaepernick will have as successful a career as RGIII. Kaepernick has a rifle arm to go along with his speed and seems to have a knack for avoiding big hits. Why I think he will have as good a career as RGIII, even though he isn't as good, is that he has a much better coach and a solid defense, neither of which are leaving anytime soon.

2. Ed Reed will have a significant impact on the Patriots defense next year. The rumors started flying this week, and I think Ed Reed signs with the pats and solidifies the secondary as the leader the Pats have been missing since Rodney Harrison.

3. The Ravens will miss the playoffs next year. With Ray Lewis leaving, and the inability to sign all of their free agents, the Ravens will be a far different team next year. Without their emotional leader, I think they will return to the team that looked quite average for most of the regular season.

4. Ray Lewis's emotions are not an act. Before these playoffs, I had been quite certain that Ray's dancing, crying, etc were all an act. Well, I've changed my mind because that average looking Ravens team before the playoffs flipped a switch after Ray's retirement announcement. This may be coincidental but I am ready to think its not an act.

The Little Things

2013-02-04T16:26:00.000-05:00

With all the media coverage focusing on the "brownout" or on the controversial no call on the 49ers 4th down play, some of the little things tend to be overlooked. I have chosen 2 plays that were big plays, but are receiving less fanfare today.

1) 2nd and goal, at the 5. 49ers ball with 2 minutes left.

** VIDEO: 49ers 2nd and Goal

Colin Kaepernick sprints right to move the pocket. The Ravens had previously sent an all out blitz, so the moving pocket would perfectly combat the blitz, had they come again. The Ravens did not send the blitz again, and ultimatley broke up Kaepernick's pass for Crabtree. My contention with this play is the fact that Kaepernick forced this ball with no real reason too: he could have held the ball far longer and waited for someone to get open. Look at the pressure on him when he threw, and the number of Ravens around Crabtree when he attempts to make the catch.

Kaepernick easily could ave extended this play rolling back left, and waited for someone to break free: usually after more than 4 seconds near the goal line, coverage will break down. This was the 49ers best chance to score on their final possession, as 2 more all out blitzes foiled 3rd and 4th down plays.

2) The biggest play of the game was the 3rd down conversion from Flacco to Boldin on their 4th quarter drive that netted them a field goal and cemented the score at 34-29. The field goal forced the 49ers to come down and score a touchdown, instead of the easy field goal they would have had. The 3rd down pass put the Ravens in field goal range, and well, the play speaks for itself in degree of difficulty.

**VIDEO: Flacco to Boldin

Making the Argument

2013-02-03T17:05:00.000-05:00

First matter of business, thank you to all of you who have been frequenting the site. For those of you waiting for the SMTW pieces, you will be rewarded tomorrow. For now however, I'd like to take a look at what turned out to be one the most intriguing Offensive Rookie of the Year races in recent memory.

The argument for Russell Wilson:

Wilson was scoffed at coming out of camp after being named the starter over Matt Flynn. Listed at 5-10, critics question whether he could be a successful passer in a league where the average offensive lineman is 6-3. Russell soon silenced these critics, leading his team to an 11-5 record and a road playoff win, as well as leading all rookies in TD passes. Wilson and the Seahawks struggled on the road however, and Wilson benefited from having the league's best total defense. Russell Wilson winning Offensive Rookie of the year would have told me that voters were basing their decision off of total success in a team sense. With that said, you would hear
no griping from me if Russell Wilson won the award.

The argument for Andrew Luck:

The consensus number one pick since the end of his junior year, Luck had an incredible year by all measures. Leading all rookies in pass attempts, completions and touchdowns, Luck was able to lead a team that had previously won two games, to an eleven win season and a playoff birth. Luck was able to do all this with a drastically worse defense than Wilson and Griffin. Luck did benefit from the 4th ranked rushing yards per game and threw eight more interceptions than Wilson, and thirteen more than Griffin. Had Luck won the award it would have shown that the voters were basing their decision on what that player means to their team; almost an MVP sort of mindset. With that, I would have no complaints if Andrew Luck was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The argument for Robert Griffin III:

Upon receiving the Heisman Trophy in his senior year at Baylor, Griffin quickly became the 1A to Andrew Luck's 1. Griffin quickly ascended to being a must watch, leading all rookie quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns, rushing yards, passer rating and interceptions. Another aspect of Griffin that one cannot ignore, is his changing of the mindset and football climate in the DC area. After two decades of mediocrity, I admit even I as an Eagles fan was moved when they played Hail to the Redskins at Fedex Field following their win over the Cowboys in week 17. Griffin also benefited from an above average rushing attack(though he was largely the focus of it
in the Option Read), as well as the league's best pass defense.

Robert Griffin III being named the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year shows that the voters were looking largely at statistics as the basis of their vote. In a race that saw three rookie quarterbacks lead their teams to the playoffs, Griffin had one of the most efficient seasons as a passer by a rookie. Add this to his dazzling running ability, and you have one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NFL right now. As a fan of the game of football, and regardless of my being an Eagles fan, I hope that this man can stay healthy throughout his career. If so, I think we may witness one of the most spectacular careers in NFL history.

Sports Book Recap

2013-02-02T22:40:00.001-05:00

So Xavier didn't win, simple as that. But they did cover their spread. So we are starting the season off 0-1 on picks. Anyways, logging off for the night. Back to the zoo tomorrow with some animals to watch the Superbowl. Have a good night everyone.

3 Thoughts

2013-02-02T22:33:00.002-05:00

As I sit here watching the Michigan vs. Indiana game and the Wizards vs. Spurs game I have realized a couple things. Some of which are only reconfirmations of past beliefs but also some new insight on other things. Read after the jump, if you want to read my thoughts on Indiana and the Wizards.

First Thought:

Victor Oladipo of Indiana is my pick for the player of the year in college basketball. He came to Indiana as a defense minded swingman with limited offensive game. Now he is averaging 15 points, 2 assists, and 6 Rebounds while playing tremendous defense. The 6-5 wingman from Upper Marlboro, Maryland (Played at Dematha Catholic in Maryland- I only mention this because I have a love for basketball players from the DMV 'DC, Maryland, Virginia'), is shooting 66% from the field and 53% from deep. Believe it or not he only averages 27.6 minutes a game. So he is a great all-around player and is extremely efficient.

I have been saying that I think Oladipo is the player of the year for the last two weeks. Although I want Michigan to win because I am not that big of an Indiana fan, I do think it would be great if Indiana wins because it would solidify Oladipo as the player of the year. If you read my last post about my top 10 draft picks for next year, you might have noticed I did not have Oladipo on that list. This is because I am not sure he will leave college early and I don't think he has as high of a ceiling as some of those other players.

Second Thought:
Indiana is my pick right now to win the NCAA tournament this March. I might not pick them in my bracket, but they are a great team that plays strong defense, has a great center in Cody Zeller, a smart point guard in Jordan Hulls, and a player of the year candidate Victor Oladipo.

Third Thought:
The Wizards might not be as good as I thought (or was hoping) for. That is all. But they are making some sort of a come back against the Spurs. I hope we pull this one out. John Wall is actually a very good point guard, regardless of what some people think. Below is his crossover on Ish Smith.

Sports Book Lock of The Day

2013-02-02T13:57:00.002-05:00

Today lock of the day is.

Xavier's money line at Richmond, +145? That is a no brainer. Rub it down and lock it up.

Game Day

2013-02-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

The Umass basketball team is down in Charlotte playing the 49ers in an A10 battle. Both teams stand at 4-2 in the conference and are looking for that extra push to put them on top of the standings. The Minutemen are coming off a huge win at La Salle (a last second shot by Chaz Williams to win by 1), and are ready for their next meal. For the betting purpose of this blog, the Minutemen are dogs by 1.5 points. The line opened at +1 and have been pushed to +1.5. I don't think this line matters though, because in my opinion the minutemen will win straight up. Umass played their best game of the year against La Salle and are 6-1 on the road. Why stop there?

For Umass to win, this is what needs to happen:

1) Terrell Vinson needs to stay out of foul trouble and play big minutes on the floor. TV is great down low and can knock down shots from the perimeter as well. He can't do either if he 3 fouls in the first 10 minutes of the game.

2) Chaz needs to control the tempo of the game, he needs to find the players on the floor for the open shot and pick up his assists. He averages 7.2 a game and if he can continue with this production, I don't see them losing. Also, Chaz can't pick up stupid fouls.

3) Raphiael Putney needs to stay hot. He scored 17 against La Salle and is averaging 13 in his last three games. Putt needs to take his shots, and not force any stupid ones, knock down a few threes and score double digits.

4) Cady Lalanne needs to play strong minutes and grab some offensive boards. He is averaging 9.3 rebounds in the last 6 games. Look for Cady to get a double-double in todays game.

5) Maxie Esho will be coming off the bench, but is one of the most athletic players on the team. He is a high energy player and can make big plays when needed. Look for Maxie to play his game and come out with 9 points and 6 rebounds.

6) Freddie Riley: As of late, Freddie has been one of the teams best defenders. Locking up the opposing teams best shooter and playing close to the full 40 minutes. And did I mention that he can shoot? Riley is averaging 10.7 points in his last ten games and a total of 25 three pointers. If Freddie can stay on the floor and continue to be a menace on D and knock down shots, he will be the game changer. We will call this the Freddie Factor.

As a team though, Umass need to force turnovers, hit their free throws, and come to play. The Minutemen NEED to play with the lead and hold it. They need to keep the pressure on Charlotte the entire game, and this means after half time. If the Minutemen come out after half and play with energy and hit shots, they should win with ease.

P.S. Umass is known for two things, ill-advised lobs and construction. And since the team is away, I don't think you'll be seeing construction.

Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky

2013-02-01T17:39:00.000-05:00

Does having a smoke show as a girlfriend have direct correlation to how you perform in sports? As it stands right now Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky are currently involved with each other, and as it stands he is the current leader in earning for 2013...

Even though there have only been a few tournaments this year, DJ is on top, and I don't see him slowing down anytime soon. I mean he is living the dream. He travels to beautiful destinations, he is in the sun for the entire day, and he doesn't even have to carry his own damn bag. Then every match, he goes out there, plays 18 holes and enjoys an expensive dinner afterwards. Oh and if he has a bad round, he gets to slam Paulina; angry sex. If he fires a low score and makes the cut; happy sex. And if he wins the tournament, Dustin gets victory sex. The kind of sex where he says jump, and she asks how high. There is no limits or boundaries and she is quite okay with it. Paulina is the kind of freaky girl in general and is definitely "rough" under the covers.

I guess if you're a professional athlete, don't go to the store in search for the deer antler spray, go to the clubs and look for the eye candy you deserve. The hotter she is, the better you will perform.

So I guess Dustin will be performing well until she decides to move on. And you know it is going to be her who ends the whole thing. Dustin knows what he has is great and is going to cling on to it for as long as possible.

P.S. Paulina definitely likes what Dustin has growing on his chin.

Prediction: NBA Top 10 Draft Picks 2013

2013-02-01T14:31:00.001-05:00

Most college basketball fans are sitting at home thinking its the 1st of February, March is on the doorstep and it is almost time for March Madness. NBA fans are thinking its only about half way through the season and the all-star game hasn't occurred yet. And then there are people like me, who are already looking at who is going to be drafted in this years upcoming NBA draft, and NO, it is NOT because my Washington Wizards are due for a high draft pick. (Unrelated note: I do not think the Wizards are as awful as their record may show, and I could see us picking in the mid teens this year). I have compiled a list, in no order, who I think will be the top 10 draft picks in June, and yes, it is only february, and neither the college basketball season nor the NBA season is over. If the NBA did not institute the one year at college rule, I must say that my top 10 would be different because Andrew Wiggins, from Huntington Prep (same high school that produced OJ Mayo) would most definitely be a top 10 pick. My list is after the jump...

1. Alex Len. 7-1, 255 lbs. Maryland. Soph. Center

2. Nerlens Noel. 6-10, 228 lbs. Kentcuky. Frosh. Center

3. Willie Cauley-Stein. 7-0, 244 lbs. Kentucky. Frosh. Center

4. Ben McLemore. 6-5, 195 lbs. Kansas. Frosh. SG

5. Shabazz Muhammad. 6-6, 222 lbs. UCLA. Frosh. SG-SF

6. Anthony Bennett. 6-8, 240 lbs. UNLV. Frosh. PF

7. Otto Porter Jr. 6-8, 205 lbs. Georgetown. Soph. SF-PF

8. Michael Carter-Williams. 6-6, 185 lbs. Syracuse. Soph. PG

9. Cody Zeller. 7-0, 240 lbs. Indiana. Soph. Center

10. Marcus Smart. 6-4, 225 lbs. Oklahoma State. Frosh. PG

This is obviously a very early look at who I think will be a top 10 draft pick for this upcoming draft, but I do love to look at this stuff now. There are, however, some other players that could also be in the top 10, who I do not have on this list. These include Alex Poythress from Kentucky, Isaiah Austin from Baylor, and Victor Oladipo from Indiana

And... We back

2013-01-31T21:12:00.000-05:00

Trying to get back on this blog game. We have been on hiatus for about 6 months, well I have. I don't think anyone else posts anything besides myself. Anyways, I have had verbal commitments from two Geese so far, Tanner and Peej. So maybe if some interesting subjects come up more writers will write and more people will read.

My subjects I'll be blogging about will probably be about sports betting ands daily fantasy sports. Two of my favorite things right now. I have been using Free Sports Bet to do my sports betting, you start with $.50 and try to build it to $200 to cash out? I don't know the criteria too well but they have accurate lines and it is a lot of fun. I am currently up to $70. Now for daily fantasy sports. I play on Draftstreet and Fanduel, I will feed the links to the free rolls on this and then my advice for the games. I really don't know much about fantasy basketball, but I will do my best. Once baseball season rolls around we will be good to go.

On a baseball note, Pitchers and Catchers are reporting in just two weeks! And the season can't seem to get here fast enough. That's it for now, deuce deuces.

Top 20 Finish

2012-06-17T11:17:00.000-04:00

Hopefully all of you took some of my advice for last Friday's Freeroll. Besides Hambone being out and changing that, my squad came in 15th place. Not bad, I guess. We were three places from being in the money but there is nothing to do on that. Anyways we will be tuning in again next week to try and capture the cash. Good luck all and Happy Fathers Day!